Best Post-Apocalytic Movies

In light of the success of the new “Hunger Games” movie and the fact that I’m reading the book, I thought I would throw out a movie list of the “Top 10 Post-Apocalyptic Movies.”

There are a lot of great movies to consider for such a list, and I wasn’t entirely sure which ones ought to be in the running. “Night of the Living Dead,” for example, is a zombie movie, but my sense is that it portrays the beginning of a zombie outbreak, unlike, say, “The Walking Dead” TV show or the movie “I Am Legend,” where there appear to be only pockets of non-mutants/zombies left.

Several of these movies were part of trilogies or other sequels/prequels. I decided to judge them on their merits, and in all but one case, the others in these series fell way short.

Anyway, here’s what I came up with. Feel free to chip in with your own choices or to criticize mine.

1. The Road Warrior – This raw vision of a violent future was the middle movie in a trilogy and by far the best.

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Current Comments

How about Waterworld.... not sure why, but I really love that movie. It's like Mad Max on water instead of desert

Posted By: Dave Oblas | Mar 30, 2012 10:44:35 AM

Waterworld certainly qualifies, but it's generally considered a bomb. I did find it entertaining.

Posted By: bill white | Mar 30, 2012 11:31:51 AM

Idiocracy would make a great double bill with Children of Men.

Posted By: Tom | Mar 30, 2012 12:03:50 PM

It would. I loved that movie.

Posted By: bill white | Mar 30, 2012 12:09:01 PM

I never saw Waterworld
I really liked "The Postman," another Kevin Costner post-apocalyptic movie that was considered a bomb. Good story, great action. Best scene is when Costner's character meets Tom Petty. Costner's character asks him: "Aren't you....?" and he replies: "yeah, I was." (or something along those lines; been years since I saw it.)

Posted By: usmapiper88 | Mar 30, 2012 3:03:45 PM

How about "The Omega Man", which "I am Legend" was probably patterned after.

Posted By: John M | Mar 30, 2012 5:15:40 PM

Does "The Time Machine" qualify? If so..the 1960 version with Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux has to be near the top of the list. I also liked John's suggestion with Heston in The Omega Man.

Posted By: Marc Grammes | Mar 30, 2012 5:44:55 PM

I loved Time Machine, which I guess sort of qualifies. I thought Omega Man was kind of hokey, but I almost used a photo of those creepy white eye guys to accompany the post. I always liked the way they looked.

Posted By: bill white | Mar 30, 2012 5:47:35 PM

Bill..just curious..if you could do as Rod Taylor did..what three books would you take back?

Posted By: Marc Grammes | Mar 30, 2012 5:51:11 PM

I loved that ending. The Bible for sure. I'll have to think about the other two. I can't remember if I ever made that a blog question, but maybe I'll do it next week. Thanks, Marc.

Posted By: bill white | Mar 30, 2012 5:53:46 PM

You're welcome Bill. Have a great weekend.

Posted By: Marc Grammes | Mar 30, 2012 6:34:30 PM

Panic in the Year Zero with Ray Milland. Almost died when his daughter complained "This nuclear war is a drag."

Posted By: DON | Mar 30, 2012 9:18:45 PM

Any Dawn of the Dead fans?

Posted By: bill white | Mar 30, 2012 10:40:21 PM

I would enter a vote for "A Clockwork Orange"

Posted By: Don E. | Mar 31, 2012 9:46:51 PM

I love Clockwork Orange, but not sure it fits the category. It's a society in the future, but I don't think there's an apocalypse.

Posted By: bill white | Mar 31, 2012 9:50:16 PM

Does the Mad Max trilogy qualify. Still have sneaky liking for that.

Posted By: linnet | Apr 1, 2012 3:20:18 PM

I have Road Warrior at No. 1. Beyond Thunderdome was good, too.

Posted By: bill white | Apr 1, 2012 7:12:23 PM

I enjoyed Escape From New York (but not the sequel "Escape from L.A."). In particular, I liked Ernest Borgnine's portrayal of Cabbie -- he seemed to be having a really good time playing with the role!

(Sorry to be late participating -- was off-line for a few days!)

Posted By: Bob H. | Apr 2, 2012 3:07:00 PM

Escape from New York definitely deserves mention.

Posted By: bill white | Apr 2, 2012 3:09:18 PM

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